Technology Tuesday – Android Genealogy

I’ve finally joined the Android generation – mainly so I can check my calendar without switching on my PC. But the other great advantage is being able to keep my family tree in my pocket, and access it while at the library.

I’m trying the free trial of Family Bee from Beekeeper Labs, and so far I like it. It’s easy to use, has several ways to add your latest GEDCOM, and has a good note-taking facility – this is in beta at the moment, so I’m using written notes as well for the moment until I’m used to it. The predictive text on the notes is good, and includes all the names I’ve needed so far. I’ve added some words, which is simply a case of clicking the “plus” sign beside the word that it hasn’t already got.

You can transfer the notes using Dropbox or Gmail – I’ve added Gmail to my Google account strictly for genealogy, and it worked well today sending the notes. You can’t update your GEDCOM through Family Bee, but I don’t think I’d want to fiddle about doing it on a touch phone anyway – I’d rather do it through my PC.

The trial version is fully functional for 14 days, which should give me time to decide if I want to keep it. And so far, I do.